Adjusting apparatus



Jan- 15, 1957 H. DoMlN 2,777,417

ADJUSTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 1 5, 1957 H, OWN 2,777,417

ADJUsfrING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.' HE7/vz Dom/P! Jan. 1s, 1957 H. DQMIN 2,777,417

ADJUSTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 151, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 15, 1957 H. DoMlN 2,777,417

DJUSTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O j 2,777,417 ADJUSTING ArPARATUS Heinz Domin, Ahlen, Westphalia, Germany, assignorto Firma Linnemann-Schnetzer K. G., Ahlen, Westphalia, Germany Application January 31, 1955, Serial No. 485,254 Claims priority, application Germany February 11, 1954 14 Claims. f (Cl. 116-115) The present invention relates to adjusting apparatus.

lt is often necessary to move a member with great precision through an extremely :small linear or angular distance, and the already known structures for accomplishing this result are extremely expensive and compli-4 cated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of a far simpler construction than anything hitherto known for effecting extremely tine adjustments.

Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide an adjusting apparatus capable of shifting a member to be adjusted accurately through a distance of 1A000 mm. or less.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which may be very conveniently and easily set to carry out either an extremely line adjustment or a rapid coarse adjustment.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists of an adjusting apparatus which includes a nut having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause the nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto. A lspindle having a line thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of the coarse thread extends with clearance into this nut. A means is provided to interconnect the spindle and nut in such a way as to prevent axial displacement of the-spindle with respect'to the nut while permitting the spindle to turn about its axis with respect to the nut. Finally, an element, .to be adjusted, is provided with a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between the 'nut and spindle, and this tubular portion has an inner threaded surface threadedly engaging the fine-thread of the spindle and an outer threaded surface threadedly engaging the coarse thread of the nut.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for lthe invention are set forth in particularv in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantage thereof, will be best understood from the following descriptiony of specific embodimentsrwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the adjusting apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken in a central plane which extends horizontally through the central portion of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III- III of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a partly diagrammatic, sectional view correspending to Fig. l of a different embodiment of the inventon.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1-4, it will be seen that the apparatus of the invention includes a housing 1 in which a spindle 2 is 2,777,417 Patented Jan. 15,1957

ice

be threadedly connected to a tool carrying carriage of a-machiney tool or it may be threadedly connected to a support for a microscope. VThe axial position of spindle 2 is determined by the thrust bearing 3 located within the housing 1. i

rl`he means to beadjusted includes a tubular portion 4 having at its left end, as viewed in Fig. 2, an extension which extends into an vaxial bore of the spindle 2 and which is fixed to the spindle 2 by the rigid pin 5 which extends transversely across the spindle 2 and through the member 4, as shown in Fig. 2. This tubular portion 4 is providedat its outer surface with a thread 4a which is extremely coarse and has a pitch long enough to cause the tubular portion 4 to turn when an axial force is applied to the tubular portion 4. For example, the thread in may have a pitch of 270 mm. This pitch is so large that in Fig. 4 the threads 4a appear rto be splines, whereas these threads actually turn through 360 along an axial length of 270 mm. At its inner surface the tubular portion 4 is provided with a tine thread having a pitch which is but a small fraction of the pitch of the coarse thread 4a.

A spindle 6 extends into and is coaxial with the tubular portion 4 of the means to be adjusted, and the spindle 6 is provided at its outer surface with line threads threadedly engaging the line threads onfthe inner surface of the tubular portion 4. The ne threads of the spindles are indicated at 6a in Figs. 2 and 4. At its right free end, as viewed in Fig. 2, the spindle 6 has a hand wheel 7 fixed thereto, so that the spindle 6 may be manually turned about its axis.

A nut 8 is located about the tubular portion 4 and is provided at its inner surfacewith a coarse thread which is in threaded engagement with the threads 4u. An annular means 8a, 8b is fixed tothe nut 8 and extends to theright thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2. This annular means includes the member 8a having a left tubular portion, as viewed in Fig. 2, fixed to the nut 8, and having a right tubular portion of a larger diameter than the left tubular portion and interconnected to the same by a wall portion loacted in a plane normal to the axis ofspindle v6. The right wall 3b is formed k with an aperture through which the spindle 6 freely ex- 1 extends, as shown in Fig. 2. This annular flange 6b has a nice sliding'fit in the annular groove so that while the spindle 6 may turn with respect to annular means 8:1, 8b there is still no axial play between this annular means and the flange 6b. Thus, it Will be seen that with this arrangement the spindle 6 and nutS are interconnected in such a way that they are free to rotate with respect to each other but they are not movable axially with respect to each other.

VA ring 9a is rigidly fixed to the spindle 6 to the right of wall 8b, as viewed in Fig. 2, and a tubularV member 9 is frictionally mounted on the outer surface of the ring 9a so that the operator may with some effort turn member 9 on the ring 9a while at the same time this member 9 will` remain in the position to which it is turned because of its frictional engagement with the ring 9a. The ring -9 is provided at its outer surface with a knurled shoulder and with a scale 1l), as shown in Fig. l, this scale 10 having, for example, 100 graduations uniformly distributed about the spindle axis.

The nut 8 is surrounded by a tubular member 11 armati provided with keyways into which the keys 12 extend, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, these keys 12 also extending into keyways formed in the outer surface of the nut 8 and extending axially therealong so that the nut 8 cannot turn with respect to the tubular member 11 but is free to move axially with respect to the same. Instead of keys 12, the nut 8 and tubular member 11 may be splined to each other or any other suitable means may be provided to prevent angular turning of members 8 and 11 with respect to each other and to permit only axial movement of these parts with respect to each other. The tubular member 11 has a tubular extension 11a, of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, xed to the right end thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2, and extending to the right over the tubular member 9. On the right free end portion of the extension 11n, as viewed in Fig. 2, a` tubular member 13 is turnably mounted with a friction fit which requires the operator to exert some effort to turn the member 13 with respect to the extension 11a. This member 13 is provided with a knurled portion 13a, as shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate the turning thereof, and furthermore, the member 13 carries an index 13b which cooperates with the scale 10, as shown in Fig. l.

Furthermore, a ring 14 is turnable with a friction t on the extension 11a, and this-friction fit requires the operator to exert some effort to turn the ring 14, this ring 14 being provided at its right end with a knurled surface, as shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate the turning thereof. The ring 14 carries a scale 15 which cooperates with an index 15a located on a tubular portion 16 of the housing 1.

This tubular portion 16 is rigidly xed to the housing 1 through any suitable means such as screw members of which is shown in the lower left portion of Fig. 1. In other words, as is evident from Fig. 1, the tubular portion 16 is rigidly fixed to a ring which is in turn fixed to the housing 1. The cylindrical tubular portion 16 of the housing 1 is formed at its inner surface with an axially extending groove 17 which, as is evident from Fig. 4, has a pair of side surfaces interconnected by a third surface directed toward the spindle 6 and having a central portion located nearer to the spindle 6 than its side portions so that the groove 17 is deeper adjacent its side surfaces than its central portion, as is evident from Fig. 4.

A pair of elongated lock pins 18 are located within the groove 17 and extend along the same. Springs 19 are located in bores of the tubular portion 16 and extend into the groove 17 into engagement with the lock pins 18 to urge these lock pins toward each other and toward the center of the groove 17. As is apparent from Fig. 4, the outer surface of the tubular member 11 is spaced from the central portion of the surface of groove 17 directed toward spindle 6 by a distancelwhich is less than the thickness of the lock pins 18 so that these lock pins are urged by the springs 19 into wedging engagement with the tubular member 8 and tubular portion 16, and in this way the lock pins 18 prevent turning of member 11 in tubular portion 16 in either direction. It is possible to unlock the tubular member 11 so that the latter may turn within the tubular portion 16, and this unlocking is brought about by a screw member 2t) which extends threadedly through the tubular portion 16 into the groove 17 between the lock pins 18. The screw member 20 has a bottom conical end engaging the lock pins 18. Thus, upon turning of the screw member 20 into the groove 17 toward the position indicated in Fig. 4, this screw member 20 will spread the lock pins 18 apart from each other against the influence of the springs 19 and will thus free the tubular member 11 for turning movement within `the tubular portion 16.

The spindle 6 is formed at approximately its right half, as viewed in Fig. 2, with an axial bore into which an elongated pin 21 extends, this pin 21 having a threaded portion of enlarged diameter threadedly engaging a threaded portion of the axial bore of the spindle 6, as shown in Fig. 2. A knob 21a is connected to the right free end of pin 21, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the operator may grasp the knob 21a to turn the pin 21. The left free end of the pin 21 is conical, as shown in Fig. 2, and engages a pair of elongated release pins 22 which are slidable in radial bores of the spindle 6 which communicate with the axial bore thereof. As is evident from Fig. 3, the ange 6b of the spindle 6 is formed with cutouts 25 having the configuration shown in Fig. 3. Each of the release pins 22 has an inner conical end engaging the conical end of pin 21 and has an outer conical end located at the cutout 25. A pair of lock pins 23 are respectively located in the cutouts 25, and springs 24 located in bores formed in the ange 6b extend from these bores respectively into the cutouts 25 into engagement with the lock pins 23 to urge these lock pins to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, into wedging engagement with the flange 6b and the portion 8a of the annular means 8a, 8b. Thus, when the lock pins 23 are in such wedging engagement with flange 6b and member 8a, spindle 6 cannot turn with respect to nut 3. In order to release the spindle 6 for turning movement with respect to the nut 8, it is only necessary to turn the pin 21 into the spindle 6 through a distance suicient to move the release pins 22 outwardly of the radial bores of spindle 6 through.

a distance sufficient to move the lock pins 23 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, against the influence of springs 24 through a distance sutiicient to move these lock pins out of wedging engagement with flange 6b and element 3a.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the left face of the tubular member 11 engages the right face of the member 2. Furthermore, the tubular portion 16 of housing 1 is provided with an inner projection 16a which extends between member 8a and the tubular member 11 and engages the right face of the latter, as viewed in Pig. 2. Thus, the member 11 is restrained by the housing 1 against axial movement, and this member 11 by engagement with the right face of member 2 prevents axial displacement of the latter.

The above described structure operates as follows:

lf it is desired to carry out a nc adjustment of a member connected to the spindle 2, then the pin 21 is turned into the spindle 6 so as to release thc latter for turning movement with respect to nut 8, in the manner described above. Furthermore, the screw 20 is turned out of the groove 17 through a distance suficicnt to allow the lock pins 18 to be moved by springs 19 to the locking position indicated in Fig. 4 where the tubular member 11 is locked against rotation with respect to the tubular por tion 16 of the housing 1. Now, the hand wheel 7 is turned so that the spindle 6 turns therewith and the threads 6a turn in the tubular portion d of the elongated means 2, 4. The member 4 because of its connection to the spindle 2 cannot move axially. Therefore, let it be assumed that the spindle 6 is turned within the member 4 so as to move axially to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the nut S is fixed to the spindle 6 against axial displacement with respect to the same, this nut 8 also will shift slightly to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, with the spindle 6. Because of the large pitch of the thread 4a, the slight axial shifting movement of the nut 8, which is brought about by turning of spindle 6 in the tubular portion 4, causesthis tubular portion 4 to turn. It will be noted that as the spindle 6 shifts to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the nut 8 together with elements 8a and 8b and element 9 and all of the structure located Within these elements arc free to move to the right within the extension 11a and the tubular member 13, the nut' `being guided for axial movement with respect to tubular'member 11. by the keys 12, as described above.

It is evident that with the above described apparatus one obtains a turning of the spindle 2 which has essentially the same relation to the turning of spindle 6 that the pitch of threads 6a have to the pitch of threads 4u. For example, if the threads 6a have a pitch of 1.5 mm.

` distance of 0.05 mm. when the hand wheel 7 is turned through one revolution. If the cylinder k9 has a diameter of 80 mm. then the graduations of scale 10 .are spaced from each other by 2.5 mm. anda turning of the hand wheel 7through the annular distance between two `successivegraduationsfof scale 10 provides an advance, in the above-described example, of 0.0005 mm. of an element threadedly connected to the spindle 2. This distance is not absolutely correct because allowance must be made for the turning of tubular portion 4 with respect to the spindle 6, and a correction of plus or minus l should be made depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle 6, so that the above mentioned value of 180 changes into 179 and 181 respectively.

lf the screw is turned into the groove 17 so as to unlock tubular member 11 for rotation within the'tubular portion 16, and if the screw member 21 is turnedout of the axial bore of spindle 6 so as vto lock spindle 6 against rotation with respect to the nut 8, then when the hand wheel 7 is turned the spindle 6, nut 8, tubular member 1l, tubular portion fi,V and all parts connected thereto will turn together through the same angle, and thus with this latter setting of the apparatus a coarse, speedy adjustment may be carried out.

lt is evident that variations of the above described structure are possible. Thus, for example, a sleeve may be turnable in a part xed to the housing 1, and this sleeve may be provided with the line threads. Such a sleeve can be connected to a nut having the coarse threads and threadedly engaging a spindle. fixed to the spindle 2 so that when such. a sleeve is turned by hand an extremely ne adjustment may also be obtained.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 is the same as that of Figs. 1 4 insofar' as the adjustment structure perl se is con cerned. Fig. 5 shows, however, a different embodiment of structure for releasably interlocking the parts of the adjustment apparatus. Those` elements of Fig. 5 which correspond to those of Figs. 1-4 are indicated with the same reference characters primed. Also, in Fig. 5 the structure is diagrammatically indicated to the extent that the separate interconnected elements are shown as be-V ing integral with each other. The releasable locking structure of Fig. 3 includes a manually axially shiftable` cylindrical sleeve 24' having an inner axially toothed surface23. The tubular member 11 has a free right cylindrical portion, as viewed in Fig. 5, which is toothed and which meshes with the teeth 23 of theA cylindrical portion 24. As is evident from Fig. 5 the tubular member 11' lis connected to the nut 8' by keys 12' in the same way as the embodiment of Figs. l-4. The tubular housing portion 15 is provided with a cylindrical portion 17 having axial lteeth at its outer surface, and the spindle 6' is provided with a cylindrical portion 6" having axially extending teeth 2S at its outer surface. Thus, it will be seen that the tubular portion 16, the tubular member 11', and the spindle 6 each has a cylindrical toothed portion lixed thereto, these three cylindrical toothed portions being of the same diameter, being coaxial, and being arranged'iin a row with the cylindrical toothed portion which is fixed to the tubular member 11' located between the other two cylindrical toothed portions. The length of the toothed portion 24' is great enough to overlap only two of these three toothed 4cylindrical portions at any one time. v f f Thus, it will be seen that in the position of Fig.` 5 the toothed outer cylindrical portion 24'- rneshes with the toothed cylindrical portion xed to the tubular member 11' and the toothed cylindrical portion of the spindle 6 so that spindle 6 and tubular member 11' are fixed against rotation with respect to each other, and inasmuch as nut 8 is iixed by keys 12 against rot-ation with respect to tubular member 11', it is evident that with the position of the parts of'Fig. 5 the spindle 6 cannot turn with respect to the nut 8. Inasmuch as the cylindrical portion 24' is not long enough to simultaneously engage the teeth 17', it is evident that the tubular member 11' must be tree to turn within the tubular portion 16' when spindle 6' is locked to tubular member 11 in the manner shown in Fig. 5, and thus with the position of the parts 'shown in Fig. 5 the spindle 2 will turn through the same angle as the spindle 6' and a rapid, coarse adjustment may be carried out.

@n the other hand, the cylindrical member 24 may be shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, into mesh with the toothed portion 17 of the tubular member 16', and in this position the tubular portion 24' is not long enough to engage the teeth 25 of spindle 6', and thus the `tubular member 11 will be locked to the tubular portion 16' while the spindle 6 will be free to turn with respect to the nut 8', and thus with this latter position of the parts the ne adjustments may be carried out.

It will be seen, therefore, that the cylindrical portion 2d is capable of locking the tubular member 11' alternately with the spindle 6' or the tubular portion 16' in order to eiect coarse or fine adjustments, respectively.

As is evident from Fig. 5, a sleeve 24a is located about the cylindrical portion 24', this sleeve being in frictional engagement with the cylindrical portion 24' and requiring the operator to exert some eiort to turn the sleeve 24al with .respect to cylindrical portion 24. Thissleeve is provided with a scale 10 which cooperates with an index located on the extension 13' of the sleeve 9' which is fixed to the spindle 6' and which extends freely about the sleeve 24a'. Thus, when tubular member 11' is locked by the cylindrical portion 24' against rotation with respect to tubular portion 16', the turning sleeve 9' maylcooperate with the scale 1d to indicate the angle through which the spindle 6' is turned. The extension 13 also has a friction fit with the sleeve 9' so that the index may be manualf ly adjusted. The left free end of the cylindrical portion 24' carries an'cxtension 14' provided with a scale 15y cooperating with an index on the tubular portion 16 for indicating the coarse adjustments. Because of the large diameters of the scales 10' and 15' it is very easy to space the graduations conveniently. It is evident that instead of a coarse thread such kas the thread 4a, it is possible to use equivalent structures such as a helical groove in one member and a tooth in another member extending into this helical groove or a helical ledge on one member and an abutment on anotherY membery engaging said helical' ledge.

When the adjustment apparatus ofthe invention is used for' scientific instruments such as microscopes, instead of the above-described releasable locking means which include wedge members ork meshing teeth, simple clamping screws or eccentrics may be used. Furthermore, details described above and having nothing to do with the essence of the invention may be omitted. In particular it is possible, for example, to make the nut 8 and the spindle 2 out of one piece and to omit structure for directly connecting spindle 6 with spindle 2. Also, at every place where in the above-described examples spindles and nuts are provided, it is possible to reverse the arrangement and to respectively replace these spindles and nuts with nut and spindles. With adjusting apparatus according to the present invention, tolerance discrepancies occurring when manufacturing the elements, e. g. the spindles can be compensated for by appropriate construction of the index 13b which cooperates with a scale 10. This construction can e. g. provide for that part of the element 9 which is bearing the scale 10 to be formed like a cup, so that the scale 10 does not move into the inside of the tubular member 13 (Fig. l) but overlaps said member 13, which in that case carries an index having the form of a curve gauged according to the actual movement of the member to be adjusted by the said apparatus. When turning the band wheel 7 the indexcurve will be covered and uncovered respectively; the point of reading being the point of intersection of the curved index and the edge of the element 9 bearing the scale lil.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of adjusting apparatus ditering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in apparatus for carrying out tine and coarse adjustments, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way trom the spirit of the present invention.

vVithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehcnded within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following,r claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a nut having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; a spindle having a ne thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; and an element, to be adjusted, hav-ing a tubular portion extending into and lling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said line thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut. f

2. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a nut having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; a spindle having a fine thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle being coaxial with and extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with` respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; and an element, to be adjusted, coaxial with said spindle and having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said fine thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut.

3. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a nut having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; a spindle having a line thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle being coaxial with and extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; an element, to be adjusted, coaxial with said spindle and having Va tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an'inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said ne thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and rcleasable lock means operatively connected to said nut and Spindle for relcasably locking the same to each. other to prevent turning of said spindle with respect to said nut.

4. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housing having a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to the inner surface thereof; means engaging said tubular portion of said housing and said tubular member for releasably preventing turning of said tubular member in said tubular portion of said housing; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect to said tubular member; a spindle having a fine thread ot' a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said fine thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing.

5. ln an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housing having a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to the inner surface thereof; means engaging said tubular portion of said housing and said tubular member for releasably preventing turning of said tubular member in said tubular portion of said housing; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect to said tubular member; a spindle having a fine thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and lling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said inc thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut', and means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing and preventing axial movement of said elongated means.

6. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housing having a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to the inner surface thereof; means engaging said tubular portion of said housing and said tubular member for releasably preventing turning of said tubular member in said tubular portion of said housing; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect to said tubular member and for guiding said nut for axial movement in said tubular member; a

spindle having a line thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearanceinto said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respectto. said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into andfilling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion hav.- ing an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said line thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing.

7. ln an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housing having a tubular portion formed at'its inner surface with a substantially axially extending groove having a pair of side faces and having between said side faces a third face directed toward the laxis of said tubular portion, said third face having a' central portion located nearer to said axis than side portions of said third face respectively adjacent said side faces of said grooves'so that the latter is deeper at said side faces thereof than at the center thereof; a pair of elongated lock pins located in and extending along said groove respectively adjacent said side faces thereof; spring means carried by said tubular portion of said housing and engaging said lock pins to urge the same toward each other and the central portion of said groove so that said thirdface by engaging'saidrpins will urge the same toward said axis as said pins approach the central portion of said third face; `a screw member extending threadedly through said tubular portion into said central portion of said groove between and in engagement with said lock pins for limiting the extent to which` the latter approach each other; a tubular member located within said tubular portion and having an outer surface engaged by said lock pins and spaced from said central portion of said third face of said groove by a distance less than the thickness of said Ilock pins, so that when said screw member maintains said pins away from the central portion of said groove said tubular member is free to turn in said tubular portion of said housing while when said screw member is turned out of the space between said lock pins to an extent sufficient to allow said lock pins to be wedged by said spring means between said third face of said groove and said tubular member the latter will be locked against rotation in said tubular portion; `a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning ofr said nut withrespect to said tubular member; a spindle having a ne thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted,

having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion havingan inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said fine thread of said spindle and an outer thread-ed surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing.v f l 8. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a nut hav-g ing an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; a spindlel having a fine thread of apitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle being coaxial with and extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial Idisplacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; an element,

to be adjusted, coaxial with said spindle and having a tubular portion extending into and illing the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded `surface in threaded engagement with said fine threadof said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and releasable lock means operatively connected to said nut and spindle for releasably locking the `same to each other to prevent turning of said spindle with respect to said nut, said releasable lock means comprising annular' means fixed to said nut and formed at its inner periphery with an annular groove, an annular flange fixed to said spindle and extending into sai-d groove, said flange having an outer peripheral portion formed with a cutout and said spindle being formed with an axial bore and with a radial bore communicating with said axial bore and said cutout, :a lock pin located in said cutout, spring means carried by said ange and engaging said pin to urge the same in saidy cutout to a position where said pinwedges against said annular means and flange to lock said nut and spindleitogether, an elongated release member slidablein said radial bore and engaging saidV pin to limit the extent to which the latter may be moved by said spring means, and an operating pin extending along said axial bore and engaging said release member for regulating the extent to which the latter extends into said cutout whereby said release member may be .positioned by said operating pin to hold. said lock pin out of wedging engagement with said ange and annular means ina position where said spindle is free to turn with'respect to said nut.

9. in an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housing having a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to said inner surface thereorst releasable lock means engaging said ytubular porti-on of said housing and said tubular member for releasably preventing turning of said tubular member in said tubular portion of said housing; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of Ya pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is yapplied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect to said tubular member; a spindle having a line thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of` said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said fine thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing; and second releasable lock meansoperatively connected to said nut and spindle for releasably locking the same to each other to prevent turning of said spindle with respect to said nut, whereby when said first releasable lock means locksy said tubular member to said tubular portion of saidjhousing and said second releasable lock means releases said spindle for turning with` respect to said nut said elongated means will be turned through a fraction of the angle that said spindle is turned through while when said first lock means frees said tubular member for turning in said tubular portion of said housing and said second lock means locks said spindle against turningwith respect to said nut said elongated means will turn together with said spindle `through the same angle.

l0. in an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housinghaving a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to said inner` surface thereof; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect to said tubular member; a spindle having a line thread of a pitch which is a fraction of. the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said ne thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing; and lock means operatively connected to said tubular portion of said housing, to said tubular member, and to said spindle for locking said tubular member alternately to said tubular portion of said housing and to said spindle.

ll.` In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a housing having a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to said inner surface thereof; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect to said tubular member; a spindle having a line thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and lling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said tine thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing; and lock means operatively connected to said tubular portion of said housing, to said tubular member, and to said Spindle for locking said tubular member alternately to said tubular portion of said housing and to said spindle, said lock means comprising three coaxial cylindrical portions of the same outer diameter arranged in a row, having outer toothed surfaces, and respectively fixed to said spindle, said tubular member, and said tubular portion of said housing with the cylindrical portion fixed to said tubular member located between the other two cylindrical portions, and a fourth cylindrical portion located about and shiftable `along said three cylindrical portions and having an inner toothed surface of a length great enough to overlap only two of said-three cylindrical portions at any one time so that said fourth cylindrical portion may be shifted from a position meshing with said cylindrical portions xed respectively to said spindle' and tubular member to a position meshing with said cylindrical portions fixed to said tubular member and tubular portion of said houslng.

l2. In an adjusting apparatus, in cembination, a housing having a tubular portion; a tubular member located within said tubular portion next to said inner surface thereof; a nut located within said tubular member and having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto, means interconnecting said nut and tubular member for preventing turning of said nut with respect t to said tubular member; a spindle having a tine thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; elongated means, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said fine thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; means supporting said elongated means for turning movement in said housing; lock means operatively connected to said tubular portion of said housing, to said tubular member, and to said spindle for locking said tubular member alternately to said tubular portion of said housing and to said spindle, said lock means comprising three coaxial cylindrical portions of the same outer diameter arranged in a row, having outer toothed surfaces, and respectively iixed to said spindle, said tubular member, and said tubular portion of said housing with the cylindrical portion fixed to said tubular member located between thc other two cylindrical portions, and a fourth cylindrical portion located about and shiftable along said three cylindrical portions and having an inner toothed surface of a length great enough to overlap only two of said three cylindrical portions at any one time so that .said fourth cylindrical portion may rbeshifted from a position meshing with said cylindrical portions xed respectively to said spindle and tubular member to a position meshing with said cylindrical portions fixed to said tubular member and tubular portion of said housing; and a sleeve xed to said spindle and extending freely about said fourth cylindrical portion.

13. In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a nut having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force s applied thereto; a spindle having a tine thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means intcrconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect 1o said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with. respect t0 said nut; an element, to be adjusted, having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said line thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and scale means connected to said spindle for indicating the angle through which said spindle is turned.

l4 In an adjusting apparatus, in combination, a nut having an inner coarse thread of a pitch large enough to cause said nut to turn when an axial force is applied thereto; a spindle having a ne thread of a pitch which is a fraction of the pitch of said coarse thread, said spindle extending with clearance into said nut; means interconnecting said spindle and nut for preventing axial displacement of said spindle with respect to said nut and for freeing said spindle for turning movement about its axis with respect to said nut; an element, to be adjusted having a tubular portion extending into and filling the space between said nut and spindle, said tubular portion having an inner threaded surface in threaded engagement with said fine thread of said spindle and an outer threaded surface in threaded engagement with said coarse thread of said nut; and scale means connected to said spindle for indicating the angle through which said spindle is turned, said scale means including an adjustable index.

No references cited.

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